Pope's Visit and OCS Religion Standards

Included below are just some of the resources that I have found referencing the Pope’s visit at the end of this month. The USCCB has a terrific website with many age appropriate resources. I have included for your quick reference the grade level standards that speak to the Pope’s role, hierarchy and magisterium, as well as Apostolic Tradition. His latest encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, On Care for our Common Home, is written in very accessible language and sections would be appropriate for middle school through high school. I am happy to post your creative ideas with regards to the Pope’s visit.

Catechetical Resources for Pope Francis’ 2015 Apostolic Journey to the U.S.A.
Archdiocese of Washington Resources



1- LCH-CF-1 Name and recognize the Pope as the visible head of the Church on earth.
2-LCH-CF-1 Understand that the Pope leads the Catholic Church, a bishop leads a diocese, and the pastor leads the local parish
3-LCH-CF-1 Identify the name of the current Holy Father, Pope, and understand that he is the visible head of the Catholic Church on earth.
4-LCH-CF-1 Name the current Holy Father, Pope, as head of the Catholic Church and the archbishop who leads the archdiocese.
5-LCH-CF-1 Define the terms magisterium and infallibility.
5-KF-R Recognize God continues to reveal Himself through apostolic tradition.
6-LCH-CF-1 Identify roles of Old Testament leaders and associate them with the roles of the Hierarchy/Magisterium, e.g. Abraham, Moses, Isaac.
6-KF-R Recall the transmission of divine revelation that continues through apostolic tradition.
6-KF-R-1 Understand that by apostolic tradition the Church discerned which books are included in the Bible.
6-LCH-MC-1 Review the Catholic Church as a worldwide, apostolic community.
6 LCH-MMC Find the relationship between the development of faith in the Old Testament and the concept of apostolic tradition.
7-KF-R State the meaning of divine inspiration, magisterium, authentic interpretation of Scripture, canon and inerrancy.
7-LCH-CF-1 Identify New Testament leaders and describe Apostolic Succession as it was established in the New Testament.
7- LCH-CF-5 Describe how apostolic religious orders provided teachers and catechists for parishes in the United States for over 150 years.
7-LCH-CH Identify the significant role of St. Peter as the first Pope.
7- LCH-CF-5 Describe how apostolic religious orders provided teachers and catechists for parishes in the United States for over 150 years.
7-LCH-CF-1 Identify New Testament leaders and describe Apostolic Succession as it was established in the New Testament.
7- LCH-CF-5 Describe how apostolic religious orders provided teachers and catechists for parishes in the United States for over 150 years.
8-ME-HC-2 Identify Catholic Social Teaching as beginning with Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical Rerum Novarum.
8- LCH-CF-1 Identify the names and roles of leadership in the Church moving from the Pope to the Pastor.
8- LCH-CH Explore the role of the Pope in leading the Church.
8- LCH-CF-1 Define the magisterium.
8- LCH-CF-1 Explain the function of Papal Encyclicals, Pastoral Letters and the Catholic Catechism as vehicles for the unity of the Church.
8-KF-R Understand that revelation ended with the death of the last apostle, but continues to be transmitted through Apostolic Tradition.
8-LE-S-3 Explain the connection between the Sacrament of Holy Orders and apostolic succession.